Brampton family recalls happy intuitive toddler after tragic accident

Sarneet Takhar entered the world 16 months ago, after her parents had been trying to have a child for 11 years. She was their only child.

Ravin Sangeh holds her cousin Sarneet Takhar, the 16-month old toddler who died after her uncle accidentally ran her over in their driveway in Brampton on Saturday. SUPPLIED PHOTO

The couple had turned to an exhausting series of in vitro fertilization attempts. And the day they found out it worked, it was the best of days. Sarneet, a Punjabi, was born on March 17, 2010.

But Saturday was the worst of days. That’s when Sarneet died in a freak accident when she was run over in the driveway of her family’s Brampton home.

Satwant Takhar, 37, and her husband, Balraj, 42, are devastated. They live in a subdivision with Ravin Sangeh, who is Sarneet’s cousin, along with Sangeh’s mother and uncle. The extended family enjoyed spending a great deal of time on outings together.

“She was like a God because we never thought she was going to come into this world,” Sangeh, 18, said.

Balraj Takhar, Sarneet’s father, sat in an office at the front of the house with Sangeh, but he couldn’t speak, overcome with tears and grief.

On Saturday around 5 p.m., Sarneet was playing outside as she waited for her family to get into two cars and drive to Belfountain Conservation Area to relax and enjoy the late-day sun. But they never left the laneway.

Sarneet’s uncle, Baljinder Dhaliwal, put his grey BMW sedan into reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway but stopped when he felt something. Sangeh, who was also in the car wasn’t sure what it was. They got out of the car and saw the horror. They had struck Sarneet. No one really remembers what happened next.

“It all happened so fast,” Sangeh said as she sobbed. “But it also seemed like it was happening slowly.”

Paramedics rushed her to hospital, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Sarneet’s mother, Satwant, is in “really bad shape,” according to Sangeh, and cannot erase the sight of her daughter’s broken little body from her mind. She remained in her bedroom at the back of the house Sunday morning.

Neighbours and friends visited to give their condolences. They also helped clean the trail of blood from the sidewalk while others placed flowers and a stuffed teddy bear on the grass beside the driveway.

Inside, a profound sadness permeated every crevice of the Takhar’s home as relatives cried and wailed while others stood around, speechless and in shock.

A large photograph of Sarneet stood on the couch in the family’s living room. They framed the picture of Sarneet and had family and friends write wishes for her first birthday. The portrait is now a memorial.

But Sarneet had a wonderful 16 months, according to Sangeh. The toddler both gave and received love.

“She was like my daughter,” Sangeh said, who helped feed her, play with her and hosted the odd slumber party in her room.

The toddler was unusually intuitive and empathetic for such a young child and could raise anyone’s mood with her deep love. She also had a very strong bond with Sangeh.

Sangeh dressed her up as a tiger last Halloween, which is when Sarneet developed a taste for candy.

“She couldn’t wait until next Halloween,” Sangeh said.

Sarneet had recently developed a fascination with water. She would water the plants, the grass, the sidewalk — whatever required hydration or a cool down. Sprinklers were next. She spent hours running back and forth through the spray this summer.

As the family tries to cope, Peel police continue their investigation, but haven’t laid any charges yet, according to Const. George Tudos.

The family has turned to prayer for help, but even their prayers remind them of the little girl.

“Sarneet started praying with us not too long ago,” Sangeh said. “She was really mature considering she just turned one a few months ago.”

But the family still has some hope.

“My aunt will get pregnant again,” Sangeh said. “And a small part of Sarneet will be back with us.”